With less than two months to the general elections, developing divisions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by Deputy President William Ruto, are posing a challenge to Nakuru County leaders.
Ruto’s allies in the county have gone after each other in recent days, indicating a potential split within the coalition and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika are at it again. The duo have broken ranks with their animosity towards each other showing during Madaraka Day celebrations.
Ngunjiri, who is running for re-election on a UDA ticket, attended the county celebrations hosted by County Commissioner Erastus Mbui and Governor Lee Kinyanjui at Kiamaina in Bahati.
Read: Susan Kihika, Jane Kihara in Bitter Spat Over Nakuru UDA Primaries
In his speech, Ngunjiri stunned the public by endorsing Kihika’s opponent for the county’s top job, Governor Kinyanjui of the Jubilee Party, which is an affiliate member of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya alliance.
Let us all campaign respecting each other’s space and rights. In the county, Jibu ni Lee (Lee is the answer) and here in Bahati, Jibu ni Kimani Ngunjiri (Ngunjiri is the answer),” said the legislator.
Senator Kihika, who was unable to attend the ceremony, did not take the statements lightly, particularly those made by Ngunjiri, and responded on social media.
“Ati yule jamaa wa Bahati amesema nini leo? Kama maneno iko hivo na mimi nasema watu wangu wa Bahati round hii tucheze kama sisi, kwani iko nini? Aende home na hiyo jivu yake!” which loosely translates to; “What has the Bahati man said today? If that is how things are, I also urge the people of Bahati to do that thing. Let him go home with his ashes,” Kihika wrote on Facebook.
Read Also: Ex-Nakuru CEC Ketyenya Drops Parliamentary Bid, Drums Up Support for Susan Kihika
This is not the first time Ngunjiri has drummed up support for Kinyanjui’s bid against Kihika, citing their disagreements over how the UDA party should be run in the vote-rich county.
Although Kihika has denied any ties to Irene Njoki, the Jubilee Party’s nominee for the Bahati seat, Ngunjiri has previously accused the two of conspiring to remove him from office.
The two have avoided each other in recent months, even when Dr Ruto visited the area.
Mr Ngunjiri, for example, has been absent from two Kenya Kwanza political events in Nakuru in the last two weeks, raising suspicions.
Read Also: Nakuru Town East Voters Confused as Two Claim to be Duly Nominated Jubilee MP Candidates
He was noticeably absent from Kenya Kwanza’s Nakuru County Economic Bloc Forum, which was hosted at the Rift Valley Sports Club last week.
He was also conspicuously absent from the Kenya Kwanza rally in Nakuru last weekend.
Mr Ngunjiri, on the other hand, said in an interview with the Nation that he was campaigning for Dr Ruto at the national level.
“I have been campaigning for [DP Ruto] outside Nakuru. Those worried about my absence should know that I am a national leader,” said Mr Ngunjiri.
Read Also: Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui Dumps UPF, To Run on Jubilee Ticket
“I am campaigning for Dr Ruto on the national platform, because back at home I know I will comfortably win my seat as MP for Bahati due to my good development record.
“In the past weeks since Dr Ruto named Mr Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate, I have been deployed by my party leader to campaign elsewhere. That is why I have been absent from Nakuru.”
Kihika is also at loggerheads with some Nakuru leaders who in April accused her of interfering with the party primaries.
Senator Kihika appears to have lost some of the MPs who initially supported her bid in the midst of the political maneuvering.
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